Mississippi Moms Finally Win Right to Own Their Placentas

One determined Mississippi mom has helped change a state law
that restricted the rights of pregnant women. Not long ago, anyone who gave birth in that
state could not take home her own placenta.

When Jordan Thiering was prepping for her delivery date, she
was told that the hospital would not be able to preserve her placenta because the
Mississippi Department of Health defined it as medical waste. In order to keep
it, Thiering would need a court order.

"For a bunch of men in suits to
tell women what they can or cannot do with their bodies is just not
right," Thiering told NBC News. "Having to get a court order to get
something you grew in your own body beside your baby is just crazy."

Thiering challenged the policy in court and won. "The
judge didn't even have anything to say," she recalled. "He looked at
my petition, asked the representative from the hospital if he was OK with
this, signed it, and we were good to go."

To her, that placenta was a critical part of early
motherhood. She believes that the blood-rich organ contains nutrients that can help
ease postpartum depression and improve breast milk production.

Though there is
very little scientific research to back up those claims, Thiering is not alone.
In recent years, a growing number of
women—including such celebrities as Kim Kardashian and January Jones—have
touted the benefits. In most cases, the placenta is dried, turned into a powder
and put into easy-to-swallow capsules or blended into smoothies.

Shortly after giving birth to son Roman
on June 17, Thiering learned that her case led to a change in the law for every woman. Now hospitals and doctors can develop their
own policies for releasing the placenta, according to a health department
spokesperson.

"It's a very good feeling,”
Thiering shared with NBC News after her victory.
“A lot of women in Mississippi were having these issues the same time I
was. So everybody is very excited now that the policy has been changed."